Fluid cartridge for a plural component sprayer

Abstract

A fluid cartridge for a plural component sprayer is configured to receive first and second component materials and purge air from the sprayer and provide the first and second component materials and purge air to a mix chamber for spraying. The fluid cartridge includes a cartridge body, material flowpaths extending from a second end to a cartridge bore, and a purge path extending from the second end to the cartridge bore. Fluid checks are disposed in the material flowpaths and purge path to prevent backflow out of the fluid cartridge. Side seals are disposed in the material paths and are pre-loaded to extend into the cartridge bore and engage a mix chamber within the cartridge bore.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of mounting a fluid cartridge for a plural component sprayer, the method comprising:
 shifting the fluid cartridge axially along an axis such that a first fluid inlet of the fluid cartridge interfaces with a first material port of a mounting head of the plural component sprayer and a second fluid inlet of the fluid cartridge interfaces with a second material port of the mounting head, and such that the fluid cartridge shifts over a mix chamber extending through a central bore of the mounting head and at least a portion of the mix chamber is disposed within a cartridge bore through the fluid cartridge, wherein the mix chamber is movable relative to the fluid cartridge and within the cartridge bore with the fluid cartridge mounted to the plural component sprayer, and wherein the central bore and the cartridge bore are aligned on the axis; and 
 securing the fluid cartridge to the mounting head by a retaining cap extending over the fluid cartridge and connected to the mounting head; 
 flowing a first component material into the fluid cartridge from the mounting head through the first fluid inlet; 
 flowing a second component material into the fluid cartridge from the mounting head through the second fluid inlet; and 
 flowing the first component material and the second component material through the fluid cartridge and into the mix chamber from the fluid cartridge. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein shifting the fluid cartridge along the axis such that the first fluid inlet of the fluid cartridge interfaces with the first material port of the mounting head of the plural component sprayer and the second fluid inlet of the fluid cartridge interfaces with the second material port of the mounting head comprises:
 aligning a first post of the fluid cartridge with the first material port and a second post of the fluid cartridge with the second material port, the first post including the first fluid inlet and the second post including the second fluid inlet; and 
 shifting the fluid cartridge axially such that the first post extends into the first material port and such that the second post extends into the second material port. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 aligning a third post of the fluid cartridge with a purge port in the mounting head; and 
 shifting the third post into the purge port as the fluid cartridge shifts axially. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 flowing a first component material into the fluid cartridge from the mounting head through the first post; 
 flowing a second component material into the fluid cartridge from the mounting head through the second post; and 
 flowing compressed air into the fluid cartridge from the mounting head through the third post. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 shifting a central extension of the fluid cartridge into the central bore through the mounting head, wherein the central extension at least partially defines the cartridge bore through the fluid cartridge; 
 wherein the fluid cartridge includes a cartridge body having a first axial end and a second axial end, and wherein the central extension, the first post, and the second post each extend axially from the second axial end. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 connecting an air cap to a head of the mix chamber, wherein the mix chamber extends through the cartridge bore such that the head of the mix chamber is disposed outside of the cartridge bore beyond the first axial end. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein shifting the fluid cartridge along the axis such that the first fluid inlet of the fluid cartridge interfaces with the first material port of the mounting head of the plural component sprayer and the second fluid inlet of the fluid cartridge interfaces with the second material port of the mounting head comprises:
 shifting the fluid cartridge into a receiving chamber of the mounting head, the receiving chamber defined by a chamber wall extending at least partially around the axis. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein securing the fluid cartridge to the mounting head by the retaining cap extending over the fluid cartridge and connected to the mounting head comprises:
 connecting the retaining cap to the chamber wall to secure the fluid cartridge within the receiving chamber. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein shifting the fluid cartridge along the axis such that the first fluid inlet of the fluid cartridge interfaces with the first material port of the mounting head of the plural component sprayer and the second fluid inlet of the fluid cartridge interfaces with the second material port of the mounting head further comprises:
 aligning a first radial projection of the fluid cartridge with a first slot formed in the chamber wall; and 
 shifting the fluid cartridge axially such that the first radial projection extends into the first slot; 
 wherein an interface between the first radial projection and the first slot prevents rotation of the fluid cartridge on the axis. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 aligning a second radial projection of the fluid cartridge with a second slot formed in the chamber wall; and 
 shifting the fluid cartridge axially such that the second radial projection extends into the second slot. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein securing the fluid cartridge to the mounting head by the retaining cap extending over the fluid cartridge and connected to the mounting head includes rotating the retaining cap about the axis. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising engaging interfaced threading on the retaining cap and the mounting head by rotating the retaining cap about the axis. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 disconnecting the retaining cap from the mounting head; and 
 pulling the fluid cartridge axially away from the mounting head to break a first fluid connection between the first fluid inlet and the first material port and to break a second fluid connection between the second fluid inlet and the second material port. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 shifting a second fluid cartridge axially along the axis such that a first fluid inlet of the second fluid cartridge interfaces with the first material port of the mounting head and a second fluid inlet of the second fluid cartridge interfaces with the second material port of the mounting head; and 
 securing the second fluid cartridge to the mounting head by having the retaining cap extended over the second fluid cartridge and connect to the mounting head. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 engaging the fluid cartridge with a lever arm and bracing the lever arm against the mounting head; and 
 exerting an axial force on the fluid cartridge by the lever arm to shift the fluid cartridge axially away from the mounting head. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein engaging the fluid cartridge with the lever arm and bracing the lever arm against the mounting head comprises:
 inserting the lever arm between a pin disposed in a slot of the mounting head and a projection of the fluid cartridge that is disposed in the slot such that the lever arm is braced against the pin. 
 
     
     
       17. A method of replacing a fluid cartridge of a plural component sprayer, the method comprising:
 disconnecting a retaining cap from a mounting head of the plural component sprayer; 
 shifting a first fluid cartridge in a first direction along an axis such that a first post of the first fluid cartridge is removed from a first material port formed in a chamber wall in a receiving chamber of the mounting head, a second post of the first fluid cartridge is removed from a second material port formed in the chamber wall of the mounting head, and a central extension of the first fluid cartridge is removed from a central bore extending axially through the mounting head, wherein the first post of the first fluid cartridge includes a first fluid inlet of the first fluid cartridge and the second post of the first fluid cartridge includes a second fluid inlet of the first fluid cartridge, the first fluid cartridge includes a first cartridge body having a first axial end of the first cartridge body and a second axial end of the first cartridge body, wherein the first post of the first fluid cartridge, the second post of the first fluid cartridge, and the central extension of the first fluid cartridge each extend axially from the first axial end of the first cartridge body, wherein the first fluid cartridge includes a first material path extending from the first fluid inlet of the first fluid cartridge to a cartridge bore extending through the first cartridge body and the central extension, wherein the first fluid cartridge includes a second material flowpath extending from the second fluid inlet of the first fluid cartridge to the cartridge bore, and wherein the cartridge bore and the central bore are aligned on the axis; 
 aligning a second fluid cartridge with the mounting head and shifting the second fluid cartridge in a second direction along the axis opposite the first direction such that a first post of the second fluid cartridge extends into the first material port, a second post of the second fluid cartridge extends into the second material port, and a central extension of the second fluid cartridge extends into the central bore, wherein the second fluid cartridge includes a second cartridge body having a first axial end of the second cartridge body and a second axial end of the second cartridge body, and wherein the first post of the second fluid cartridge, the second post of the second fluid cartridge, and the central extension of the second fluid cartridge each extend axially from the first axial end of the second cartridge body; 
 connecting the retaining cap with the mounting head to retain the second fluid cartridge on the mounting head. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 shifting the first fluid cartridge in the first direction along the axis pulls the first fluid cartridge axially relative to a mix chamber of the plural component sprayer, the mix chamber shifting through the cartridge bore of the first fluid cartridge; and 
 aligning the second fluid cartridge with the mounting head and shifting the second fluid cartridge in the second direction along the axis includes aligning the mix chamber with a cartridge bore of the second fluid cartridge and passing the second fluid cartridge over the mix chamber such that the mix chamber extends through the cartridge bore of the second fluid cartridge. 
 
     
     
       19. A method of mounting a fluid cartridge for a plural component sprayer, the method comprising:
 shifting the fluid cartridge axially in a first axial direction along an axis such that:
 a first fluid inlet of the fluid cartridge interfaces with a first material port of a mounting head of the plural component sprayer; 
 a second fluid inlet of the fluid cartridge interfaces with a second material port of the mounting head; 
 the fluid cartridge shifts over a mix chamber extending through a central bore of the mounting head such that at least a portion of the mix chamber is disposed within a cartridge bore through the fluid cartridge; 
 wherein the fluid cartridge includes a cartridge body having a first axial end and a second axial end, the cartridge bore extending axially through the fluid cartridge, a first side seal disposed at least partially within the cartridge body and projecting into the cartridge bore, and a second side seal disposed at least partially within the cartridge body and projecting into the cartridge bore; 
 wherein the mix chamber is movable relative to the fluid cartridge and within the cartridge bore with the fluid cartridge mounted to the plural component sprayer; and 
 wherein the central bore and the cartridge bore are aligned on the axis; and 
 
 securing the fluid cartridge to the mounting head by a retaining cap extending over the fluid cartridge and connected to the mounting head.